Creating Complete Roadway Corridors: The AASHTO Guide to Transportation Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design NCHRP Project 15-33 Status Report AASHTO Standing Committee on Design Technical Committee on Environmental Design Keith Robinson - Caltrans Keith Harrison - FHWA
Creating Complete Roadway Corridors: The AASHTO Guide to Transportation Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design
Presentation Outline Project Status Summary of Substantial Changes Outline of 2016 Guide Introductory Sections Chapter 1: Evolution of Complete Corridors Chapter 2: Principles of Complete Corridors Chapter 3: Defining Complete Corridors Chapter 4: Elements of Complete Corridors Chapter 5: Examples of Complete Corridors Chapter 6: Completing the Corridor Appendices Questions and Discussion
Project Status
TRB and NCHRP Project 2000 2004 TRB AFB40 committee attempts volunteer revision - Proved to be overwhelming task. 2006 2010 NCHRP Project 15-33 contentious from beginning. Piecemeal delivery of content. 2011-2012 Previous NCHRP contractor attempts revision submitted version not approved by NCHRP panel, TRB AFB40 Committee or by TCED through informal ballot. 2012-2014 TCED and AFB40 solicit for additional funding. January 2015 - May 2016 Current contractor edits previous incomplete version through second NCHRP contract. Six TCED members invited to technical advisory panel. Final version developed for formal AASHTO balloting.
Summary of Substantial Changes
Changes from 1991 Publication The new guide Provides comprehensive guidance for the planning and designing of complete roadway corridors. Promotes design flexibility by emphasizing how different types of roadways and different types of settings require different solutions. Promotes an interdisciplinary approach to the planning and design of roadways. Promotes the continuous engagement of all stakeholders, especially regulatory authorities, public officials and the general public, during all aspects of roadway planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations.
Changes from 1991 Publication The new guide Redefines its primary objective from one focused mostly on the conservation and mitigation of natural resources to one based on the holistic planning and design of roadways that are fully integrated with their social, economic, and environmental settings. Expands its audience and accessibility by using lay language. Examines four commonly accepted roadway types Freeway, Highway, Road, and Street rather than using technical categories such as functional class. Examines four landscape setting types Remote, Rural, Suburban, and Urban rather than using technical categories as defined by ecological studies, zoning or political boundaries.
Changes from 1991 Publication The new guide Examines 16 distinct corridor types as a cross between the four types of roadways and four types of settings. Provides a prototypical example for each of the 16 types of corridors. Expands the number of design elements discussed to 28. Discusses for each individual design element, the principles directing its general use as well as a more detail discussion for adapting its use to specific types of roadways and settings. Focuses on roadways, eliminating discussions of airports, ports, railroads and non-roadway transit.
Outline of 2016 Guide
Outline of 1991 Guide Introductory Sections Chapter 1: Integration of Landscape and Environmental Design in Transportation Chapter 2: Landscape and ED Elements Chapter 3: Environmental Design Chapter 4: Landscape and Geometric Design Chapter 5: Construction Considerations Chapter 6: Roadside Management Chapter 7: Highway Related Areas Chapter 8: Airports, Transit, Ports, Rail Outline of 2016 Guide Introductory Sections Chapter 1: Evolution of Complete Corridors Chapter 2: Principles of Complete Corridors Chapter 3: Defining Complete Corridors Chapter 4: Elements of Complete Corridors Chapter 5: Examples of Complete Corridors Chapter 6: Completing the Corridor Appendices Chapter 9: Joint Development
Introductory Sections Foreword Why use this guide How to use this guide Who should use this guide Preface Why an updated guide was needed Acknowledgement of past guidance List of associated manuals Introduction Summarizes content Provides disclaimer that the 16 corridors on which the guidance is based are just a set of analytical tools; a starting point for understanding how to best fit a roadway into its environment.
Chapter 1: Evolution of Complete Corridors Historic Influences Presents an inventory of roadway history Describes roadways purpose and value Traditional roadway values are still pertinent People Projects Events
Chapter 1: Evolution of Complete Corridors Future Influences NCHRP Report 750, Volumes 1-6 Systems Approach to Scenario Planning We decide our future Recognizing trends and identifying emerging issues
Chapter 1: Evolution of Complete Corridors Synthesis Building roadways to preserve the values of our heritage and to create the society we desire Combining the studies of history and the future
Chapter 2: Principles of Complete Corridors Suggests Foundational Practices Engage stakeholders Employ interdisciplinary teams Consider multiple modes Achieves Holistic Outcomes Fosters community values Ensures regulatory compliance Provides technically appropriate transportation solutions Establishes a Comprehensive Framework
Chapter 3: Creating Complete Corridors + Landscape Setting Roadway Type Rural Highway
Chapter 3: Creating Complete Corridors = Corridor Type Rural Highway
Chapter 3: Defining Complete Corridors Landscape Setting R o a d w a y T y p e Freeway Highway Road Street Remote Rural Suburban Urban
Landscape Settings Limiting the definition of the landscape setting to being either urban or rural fails to address the enormous differences in settings that exist within these definitions, such as between urban San Francisco, California and suburban Plano, Texas. Both qualify as urban under the Green Book but one is a compact historic city, the other a more recent low density development, each with quite separate distinguishing characteristics Similarly, the Village of Woodstock, Vermont, with a population of about 1,000, would be considered rural by the Green Book, which would apply the same label to the remote and virtually unpopulated Saguaro National Park in Arizona
Landscape Settings Idealized Transect of Landscape Settings A transect is a theoretical concept used to define an idealized spectrum of human settlement patterns and land uses ranging from those that are dominated by the natural environment to those that are dominated by the built environment
Roadway Types This [Green Book] classification system is primarily focused on only accommodating motorized vehicles and is frequently too general to be useful to a planner or designer... Many states and local units of government, therefore, use other classification systems with many more categories in an attempt to have a more nuanced approach to planning and design
Roadway Types
A Different Point of Departure Roadway designers must be aware that the landscape settings [roadway types] through which the roadway passes may not only vary from segment to segment but that the landscape setting [roadway type] in a particular segment may be transitional between these four settings [types] or even a unique amalgamation of them Again, these four roadway settings [types] are only meant as a point of departure for thinking about how to best integrate a roadway into [its context]
Supporting Design Flexibility
Chapter 4: Elements of Complete Corridors Roadway Principal Elements o Geometrics o Lanes o Recovery Area o Intersections & Interchanges o Pavement o Bridges Supporting Elements o Retaining Structures o Noise Abatement o Guardrails and Barriers o Medians o Fences o Signs o Lighting o Utilities o Parking o Toll Structures Roadside Principal Elements o Grading o Shoulders, Sidewalks and Trails o Drainage o Soils o Vegetation o Vegetation Management o Wildlife Supporting Elements o Park and Ride Lots o Rest Areas o Roadside Furnishings o Gateways o Public Art
Design Element Attributes Guiding Principles explains how the design element can contribute to creating a complete roadway. General Considerations provides basic and universal design parameters for using the element. Setting Considerations examines each design element under conditions specific to each type of setting (remote, rural, suburban, and urban). Subsequently, each setting is further divided into guidance specific to a particular roadway type (freeway, highway, road, and street).
Design Element Example: Pavement Guiding Principles o Typically PCC or bituminous; Concrete or brick pavers considered for special applications on lower volume streets, e.g. ped crossings General Considerations o Common Design Considerations: Surface treatments: Textures, Color, Scoring o Environmental Considerations Reducing Runoff Impacts Reducing Heat Impacts Reducing Noise Impacts Reducing Energy Consumption Setting Considerations o Remote: Permeable and quiet pavements should be considered o Suburban: Different surface treatment to distinguish parking from travel
Design Element Example: Pavement
Chapter 5: Examples of Complete Corridors Selected best examples from the original 24 Expanded narratives by: Identifying which CSS principles were demonstrated by work done in the corridor. Identifying which design elements were innovatively used.
Chapter 5: Examples of Complete Corridors
Sample Case Study: Paris Pike
Sample Case Study: Paris Pike Suburban Highway (?) Landscape Setting The primary characteristic of a suburban landscape setting, differentiating it from urban and rural settings, is the balance between structures and green space. There are significantly more structures, mostly houses and commercial buildings, in suburbs than there are in rural landscapes. Yet there is more green space, both private and public, in a typical suburban neighborhood than in a typical urban one. Water bodies, especially wetlands and streams, are more frequently seen in suburban settings than they are in a typical urban landscape Road Type A principal or minor arterial or major collector roadway with, characteristically, multiple lanes and frequently, in populated areas, adjacent parallel service roads; crossings, especially major ones, can be grade separated, although signalized and unsignalized at-grade crossings acceptable; opposing traffic divided by median, barrier, or pavement markings; access controlled and typically only at crossing roadways; high speed; high volume; mostly for motorized traffic although active transportation allowed but usually not encouraged; parking typically prohibited. Typically a state or occasionally a county or local facility
Sample Case Study: Paris Pike ROADWAY DESIGN ELEMENT GUIDANCE BY SETTING Primary Roadway Elements Geometrics Lanes Recovery Area Intersections & Interchanges Pavement Bridges Guiding Principals General Considerations Setting Considerations Remote Rural Suburban Urban 4-5 4-5 4-6 4-9 4-10 4-13 4-18 4-18 4-22 4-22 4-22 4-22 4-25 4-26 4-28 4-28 4-28 4-29 4-30 Supporting Roadway Elements Retaining Structures Noise Abatement Guardrails & Barriers Medians Fences Signs Lighting Utilities Parking Toll Structures Intersections 4-30 Interchanges 4-39 4-42 4-43 4-44 4-44 4-47 4-47 4-53 4-53 4-54 4-54 4-56 4-57 4-67 4-68 4-68 4-69 4-72 4-74 4-77 4-78 4-78 4-78 4-80 4-81 4-85 4-85 4-85 4-85 4-87 4-87 4-91 4-92 4-93 4-94 4-95 4-95 4-97 4-97 4-98 4-98 4-99 4-99 4-102 4-102 4-102 4-103 4-104 4-104 4-107 4-108 4-109 4-109 4-111 4-111 4-116 4-116 4-117 4-117 4-118 4-118 4-120 4-121 4-121 4-122 4-123 4-123 4-126 4-127 4-127 4-128 4-129 4-129 4-132 4-132 4-132 4-132
Sample Case Study: Paris Pike
Sample Case Study: Paris Pike
Chapter 6: Completing the Corridor Modal Considerations Pedestrians Bicycles Transit Motor Vehicles Demographic Considerations Recognizing and Responding to Community Differences Tools for Completing the Corridor Public Engagement Visual Impact Assessment Performance Measures
Next Steps
Questions? Comments?